Sewing machine



1933- c. s. THOMPSON ET AL I 2,107,918

SEWING MACHINE Filed Feb. e. 1936 s Sheets-Sheet 1 i INVENTORS: I Charles S. Thompson/3 W1 M55855 5,; Frank fiifuwral,

1938. c. s. THOMPSON ET AL 2,107,918

SEWING MACHINE Filed Feb. 6. 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS= 5 Thom Charles psan Z y Frank fif Human ORNEYS.

Feb. 8, 1938.

C. S. THOMPSON ET AL SEWING MACHINE Filed Feb. 6. 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS:

rles S.Thaniyyson& BY Frank :7. .uczra TTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SEWING MACHINE Charles S. Thompson, Elmhurst, and Frank A. Kucera, Chicago, Ill., assignors to Union Special Machine Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application February 6, 1936, Serial No. 62,570 9 Claims. (Cl. 112-100) This invention relates to sewing machines; ed upon it a combined hand and belt wheel and it has reference more particularly to sewing 5 whereby the machine can be driven either machines of the type featured in U. S. Patent manually or by power. The needle bar of the No. 1,405,855, granted to James R. Moilatt on machine, indicated at 6, is confined to endwise February 7, 1922. reciprocation by upper and lower guide bushings In machines of the type specifically referred l and 8 (Fig. III) set into a head 9 at the end of to, multiple needles are employed to form paralthe overhanging arm 2, and at its lower end lel rows of stitches while a looper manipulates carries two needles l0 and II (Fig. I). Coa thread to crosswise connect the needle thread operating with the needles l0 and H below the loops at the underside of the fabric being sewed, top or work supporting surface 12 of the hollow and while another element manipulates a cover base I is a looper l3 (Fig. I) whereof the carthread to similarly crosswise connect the needle rier arm I4 is fulcrumed at i5 to a rocker I6 thread-loops at the upper side of the fabric. which is actuated, through suitable connections In connection with such sewing machines, we (not illustrated), from the main shaft 4 to imaim to provide improved and simplified mechapart the needle avoiding movements to said nism for actuating the cover thread nianipulatlooper. By means of a horizontal link ii, the ing element in timed relation with the needles carrier arm I4 is coupled with an oscillating and the looper, as well as incorporated means arm l8, which, in turn, is actuated by suitable which can be relied upon to effectively take up means (not illustrated) from the main shaft 4. the slack in the cover thread and thereby pre- Also confined to axial movement in upper and assure a tight and firm crosswise connection lower bushings l9 and 20 (Fig. III) set into the of the needle loops at the corresponding side of head 9, is a vertical presser bar 2|, having a the fabric. presser foot 22 secured to its lower end. A leaf Other objects and attendant advantages will spring 23 mounted on the top of the overhangappear from the following detailed description ing arm 2 and regulatable by means of a finger of the attached drawings, wherein Fig. I shows nut 25, exerts downward pressure upon the pressa front elevation of a sewing machine convener bar 2| whereby the presser foot 22 is mainiently embodying our invention. tained in yielding contact with the fabric (not Fig. II shows the machine in rear elevation illustrated) being sewed which is progressively with portions of its frame broken away to exadvanced crosswise of the work support i2 by a pose important parts which would otherwise be feed dog shown at 26 in Fig. HI. Like the looper hidden.- i3, the feed dog 26 is operated from the main Fig. III is a fragmentary view, partly in eleshaft 4 by concealed mechanism within the holvation and partly in section, taken as indicated low of the base I. by the arrows 1IIIII in Fig. II and drawn to a Cooperating with the needles l0 and il above larger scale. I the work support is a cover thread manipulating Figs. IV and V are fragmentary detail sectional views on a still larger scale taken as respectively indicated by the arrows IVIV and V-V in Fig. III.

Fig. VI is an enlarged fragmentary detail sectional view taken as indicated by the arrows VIVI in Fig. II; and

I and V) to engage the cover thread as the latter emerges from the guide eye 28 in a pendant arm 29 secured by screws 30 to the lower end of the head 9. En route to the needles l0 and H and the looper 13 from individual sources of supply (not illustrated), the needle C (Fig. I)

Fig. VII is likewise an enlarged fragmentary threads N, N and the looper thread L pass detail sectional view taken as indicated by the through various tensions and guides shown in arrows VII-VII in Fig. II. Fig. I after a manner commonly practiced in the art.

Coming now to those features with which the present invention is more especially concerned, the lower guide bushing 20 (Fig. III) for the presser bar 2| is rotatably mounted in the bottom of the head 9, and provided at its upper end with a circumferential retaining flange 3| which engages a bearing surface 32 within the hollow of said head. Aflixed to the projecting bottom The sewing machine herein illustrated for convenience of exemplifying our invention, comprises a hollow base i which is overhung by an arm 2 extending horizontally from an integrally formed standard 3 rising from said base at one end thereof. Extending longitudinally through the hollow base and suitably journaled therein is a, rotary main shaft 4 of the machine, which, at the right hand or protruding end has mountelement 21 having a hook at its free end (Figs.

the axis of the presser bar II as a center.

end of the bushing 24 by set screws 33, is an arm 34 which carries the cover thread manipulating element 21 so that the latter, through oscillation of said bushing, swings back and forth algtlllt e mea'ns provided for imparting the required oscii'latory movements to the sleeve 20 include a horizontal rock shaft 35 which extends longitudinally along the back of the overhanging arm 2 as shown in Figs. II and HI, and which is journaled in spaced bearings 35 and 31 respectively secured. by means of screws 38 and 39 to said arm. Afllxed to the forward end of the rock shaft 35 is a pendant arm 40 which, through a. horizontal link 4|, is coupled with an upstanding crank ear 42 on the top flange II of the oscillating bushing ll, the pivotal connections at 43 and 44 being of the ball Joint type so as to allow universal movement at these points without attendant bindin of the parts. The rock shaft 35 is actuated from the main shaft 4 through connections extending up and outward of the hollow standard 3, see Figs. II and VI. As shown, these connections include a vertical pitman 45 whereby a crank center 45 on the main shaft 4 is coordinated with an arm 41 which is secured to the rock shaft 35 at the left hand end in Fig. II and which reaches inwardly through an opening 48 in the back side of the standard '5. From Fig. VI it will be observed that the pivotal connection 49 for the top end of the pitman is adjustable along a longitudinal slot 55 in the arm 41 so that the rocking movement of the shaft 35 and, in turn, the swing of the cover thread manipulating element 21 can be varied. Immediately adjacent the crank 45 on the main shaft 4 is another crank 5|, which, through another vertical pitman 52 also extending upward within the hollow of the standard 5, actuates means within the overhanging arm 2 for imparting the reciprocatory movements to the needle bar 6, the means just referred to having been omitted from the drawings since it forms no part of the present invention.

In order to avoid soiling of the work being operated upon in the machine, a trough 53 is provided for catching drip oil from the horizontal connecting link 4!, said trough being secured to the end face of the head 9.

For the purpose of taking up the slack in the cover thread C, there is affixed to the rock shaft 35 a finger 55 (Figs. 11 and VII) whichis adapted to engage said thread in the interval between a pair of guide eyes 55, 51 in a horizontal arm 58 secured by a screw 59 to the back of the standard 3. The arm 55 also carries a regulatable tension device 50 by which restraint is placed upon the cover thread C before passing through the eyes 56 and 51. As shown in Fig. I, there is also provided a tensioning device 5| on the head 9 whereby additional drag is induced in said yarn before it passes, by way of a directional guide 52 carried by the needle bar 5 to the guide 28 hereinbefore referred to.

During the operation of the machine, the hook element 21 is oscillated back and forth in a horizontal plane past the needles l0 and H by motion derived from the main shaft 4 through the rock shaft 35 and the interposed connections, and in so doing, manipulates the cover thread C in substantially the same manner as described in the Moifatt Patent No. 1,405,855. At the same time, the finger 55, by intermittently engaging the cover thread C in the interval between the fixed guide eyes '58 and 51, takes up the slack of said thread during the retractive or idle strokes of the manipulating element 21 whereby the needle thread loops are tightly connected crosswise at the top side of the fabric being sewed. The amount of 'thread absorbed during each actuation of the finger 55 may obviously be varied by angularly adjusting the latter on the rock shaft 35.

From the foregoing it will be apparent thatwe have provided a cover thread laying mechanism, with an incorporated slack take-up, which is simple in construction, easily assembled and adjusted, and which moreover can be relied upon for perfect performance over protracted periods without requiring attention except for occasional oiling.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. In a sewing machine, a work support with an overhanging arm; a vertical needle bar; a vertical presser bar rearward of the needle bar in the line of feeding, both the needle bar and the presser bar being confined to axial movement in a head at the end of the overhanging arm; a guide bushing for the presser bar journaled for oscillation in said head; a looper below the work support adapted to cooperate with a plurality of needles on the needle bar; a cover thread manipulating element operating in front of the needle bar and adapted to cooperate with the needles above the work support, said element being carried by the bushing aforesaid; and means for oscillating the bushing to effect actuation of the cover thread manipulating element.

2. In a sewing machine, a work support with an overhanging arm; a vertical needle bar; a vertical presser bar rearward of the needle bar in the line of feeding, both the needle bar and the presser bar being confined to axial movement in a head at the end of the overhanging arm; a guide bushing for the presser bar journaled for oscillation in said head; a looper below the work support adapted to cooperate with a plurality of needles on the needle bar: a cover thread manipulating element operating in front of the needle bar and adapted to cooperate with the needles above the work support, said element being carried by the bushing aforesaid; a rock shaft; and interposed connections whereby oscillatory movement is communicated. from the rock shaft to the bushing to effect actuation of the cover thread manipulating element.

3. In a sewing machine, a work support with an overhanging arm; a vertical needle bar; a vertical presser bar rearward of the needle bar in the line of feeding, both the needle bar and the presser bar being confined to axial movement in a head at the end of the overhanging arm; a guide bushing for the presser bar journaled for oscillation in said head; a looper below the work support adapted to cooperate with a plurality of needles on the needle bar; a cover thread manipulating element operating in front of the needle bar and adapted to cooperate with the needles above the work support, said element being carried by the bushing aforesaid; a rotary shaft journaled beneath the work support; a rock shaft journaled on the overhanging arm and actuated from the rotary shaft; and interposed connections whereby oscillatory movement is communicated from the rock shaft to the bushing aforesaid to effect actuation of the cover thread manipulating element.

4. In a sewing machine, a work support with an overhanging arm extending horizontally from a hollow standard at one end of said work support; a vertical needle bar and a vertical presser bar both confined to axial movement in a head at the end of said overhanging arm; a guide bushing for the presser bar journaled for oscillation in said head; a looper below the work support adapted to cooperate with a plurality of needles carried by the needle bar; a cover thread manipulating element adapted to cooperate with the needles above the work support, said element being carried-by the bushing aforesaid; a horizontal rock shaft journaled along the exterior of the overhanging arm; a longitudinal main shaft journaled beneath the work support; connections extending up from the main shaft through and outward of the hollow standard for actuating the rock shaft; and interposed connections whereby oscillatory movement is communicated from the rock shaft to the bushing aforesaid to actuate the cover thread manipulating element.

5. In a sewing machine, a work support with an overhanging arm; a vertical needle bar; a vertical presser bar rearward of the needle bar in the line of feeding, both the needle bar and the presser bar being confined to endwise movement in a head at the end of the overhanging arm; a looper below the work support adapted to cooperate with a plurality of needles on the needle bar; a cover th'read manipulating element fulcrumed for swinging movement about the axis of the presser bar and adapted to cooperate with the needles above the work support; a rock shaft; interposed connections whereby oscillatory movement is communicated from the rock shaft to the cover thread manipulating element; and a slack take-up means for the cover thread actuated from said rock shaft;

6. In a sewing machine, a work support with anoverhanging arm; a vertical needle bar; a vertical presser bar rearward of the needle bar in the line of feeding, both the needle bar and the presser bar being confined to endwise movement in a head at the end of the overhanging arm; a looper below the work support adapted to cooperate with a plurality of needles onthe needle bar; a cover thread manipulating element fulcrumed for oscillation about the axis of the presser bar and adapted to cooperate with the needles above the work support; a rock shaft; interposed connections whereby oscillatory movement is communicated from the rock shaft to the cover thread manipulating element; a pair of aligned guide eyes throug which the cover thread passes enroute to the cover thread manipulating element; and a finger on the rock shaft adapted to engage the cover thread in the interval between the guide eyes in taking up the slack therein.

-7. In a sewing machine, a work support with an overhanging arm; a vertical needle bar and a vertical presser bar both confined to endwise movement in a head at the end of the overhanging arm; a guide bushing for the presser bar journaled for oscillation in saidhead; a looper below the work support adapted to cooperate with a plurality of needles on the needle bar; a

cover thread manipulating element adapted to cooperate with the needles above the work support; said element being carried by the bushing aforesaid; a rotary shaft journaled beneath the work support; a rock shaft journaled on the overhanging arm and actuated from the rotary shaft; interposed connections whereby oscillatory movement is communicated from the rock shaft to the bushing to actuate the cover thread manipulating element; a pair of aligned guide eyes through which the cover thread passes enroute to the cover thread manipulating element; and a finger on the rock shaft adapted to engage the cover thread in the interval between the guide eyes in taking up the slack of said thread.

8. In a sewing machine, a work support with an overhanging arm extending horizontally from a hollow standard at one end of said work support; a vertical needle bar and a vertical presser bar both confined to axial movement in a head at the endof said overhanging arm; a looper below the work support adapted to cooperate, with a plurality of needles carried by the needle bar; a cover thread manipulating element adapted to cooperate with the needles above the work support; a horizontal rock shaft journaled along the exterior of the overhangingarm; a longitudinal rotary shaft journaled beneath the work support; connections extending up from the rotary shaft through and outward of the hollow standard for actuating the rock shaft; interposed connections whereby oscillatory movement is communicated from the rock shaft to the bushing to actuate the cover thread manipulating element; and slack take-up means for the cover thread actuated from said rock shaft.

9. In a sewing machine, a work support with an overhanging arm extending horizontally from a hollow standard at one end of said work support; a vertical needle bar and a vertical presser bar both confined to axial movement in a head at the end of said overhanging arm; a looper below the work support adapted to cooperate with a plurality of needles carried by the needle bar; a cover thread manipulating element adapted to cooperate with the needles above the work support; a horizontal rock shaft journaled along the exterior of the overhanging arm; a longitudinal rotary shaft journaled beneath the work support connections extending up from the main shaft through and outward of the hollow standard for actuating the rock shaft; interposed connections .whereby oscillatory movement is communicated from the rock shaft to the cover thread manipulating element; a pair of aligned guide eyes through which the cover thread passes enroute to the cover'thread manipulating element; and a finger on the rock shaft for engaging the cover thread in the interval between the guide eyes to take up the slack therein.

CHARLES S. THOMPSON. FRANK A. K'UCERA. 

